Max Verstappen threatens to quit F1 as ‘silly’ punishment escalates feud with FIA

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen teased a move away from the sport once more in the aftermath of his second-place finish at the Singapore Grand Prix

Max Verstappen raised more doubts over his future in Formula 1 after being slapped with a punishment by the FIA for swearing in an interview.

Verstappen was ordered to perform “work of public interest” after dropping an F-bomb at a press conference ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. The Dutchman was found guilty of a breach of regulations after describing his Red Bull car as being “f***ed”, with his argument about English not being his native language not being enough for him to escape punishment.

“While the stewards accept that this may be true, it is important for role models to learn to be mindful when speaking in public forums, in particular when not under any particular pressure,” F1 stewards said. Verstappen gave a number of short answers in a press conference on Saturday, appearing to take on the FIA following his punishment and continued to make his feelings clear after Sunday’s grand prix.

The reigning world champion started second on the grid behind Lando Norris, and that’s also how things finished in Singapore. After the race, though, he indicated his future in the sport was far from secure.

“These kinds of things definitely decide my future as well, when you can’t be yourself or you have to deal with these kinds of silly things,” Verstappen said, per The BBC

“Now I am at the stage of my career where you don’t want to be dealing with this all the time. It’s really tiring. For me, that is not a way of continuing in the sport, that’s for sure.”

Norris closed the gap at the top of the drivers’ standings with his win, though the British driver lost the fastest lap bonus to Daniel Ricciardo in the closing stages. We need to keep on trying and at one point try to overturn it a bit, not always finishing behind. But, we will see how that goes,” Verstappen said after the gap closed.

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Verstappen also had words of praise for Ricciardo after the race in Singapore. The Australian, a former team-mate of Verstappen’s at Red Bull, may have competed in his final grand prix with Liam Lawson set to take his place with Red Bull’s sister team.

“Daniel and I go way back and we always had a great relationship, a great friendship and a lot of respect for each other as well,” Verstappen said. “He’s just a great guy, you know? It just clicks, there’s no fake person.

“We just get along, easygoing, I like that. He’s a very fast driver, I think everyone knows that, but he’s also just a great guy in the paddock.”